In a celebration that was nine months in the making, Rutgers-Newark and Fiserv recently honored graduates of the Entrepreneurship Pioneer Initiative, a program that supports first-generation entrepreneurs.
Since last year, Rutgers-Newark and Fiserv – a leading global provider of payments and financial technology solutions company with a strong presence in Berkeley Heights – have partnered to augment the business school’s nine-month EPI program.
This program, which includes grants for the selected small businesses, allows participants to learn how to create long-term plans through counseling, mentorship, networking and education.
Among 18 graduates of this EPI cohort, two small business owners – Takeerah Jones, CEO of Busy Bees Learning Center, and Osiris Fonseca, CEO of Strawberry & Me – were selected to each receive $5,000 grants to grow their businesses.
Jones is the founder of the Montclair-based Busy Bees Learning Center, a STEM education company that serves children ages 7-14 in underserved communities by providing coding and technology education. A former teacher, she was inspired to start her business to develop the next generation’s budding tech skills.
Her company introduces them to STEM careers and leaders in the field, including scientists and astronauts.
Osiris Fonseca, founder of Strawberry & Me in Jersey City, is a self-taught chocolatier who creates a range of chocolate-covered strawberries and other treats.
Fonseca said founding her own business was a way to remain close to her daughter and seize opportunities outside of motherhood.
“I was there for her first words, her first steps,’’ she said. “But as a mom sometimes we get lost, you take care of the kids, and you lose yourself. This gives me back myself.”
The award ceremony was held at the on-campus Fiserv-Rutgers Innovation Hub, part of a multifaceted collaboration between Rutgers-Newark and Fiserv that is designed to leverage diversity to drive innovation in the financial technology industry.
Rutgers-Newark Interim Chancellor Jeffrey Robinson said the impact of the program is immense.
“One of the efforts Fiserv has invested in over the years is our small business program,” he said. “That’s what we’re here to support and celebrate.’’
Neil Wilcox, head of corporate social responsibility at Fiserv, agreed.
“Small businesses, such as those honored here today, are vital to the communities they serve – creating jobs, driving growth and building strong, connected neighborhoods,’’ he said. “At Fiserv, we are proud to support these businesses by championing the grit and determination that drives their success.”
The event’s keynote speaker was Newark native Gary Mann, founder of JASFEL Analytics, a data analytics and engineering company.
“I wanted to base my company in Newark because I wanted to be an engineer and as a kid, I didn’t see any engineers who looked like me,’’ he explained.
Mann, who also serves as the chair of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, urged large companies to contract small businesses and work with them in other ways.
“There’s power in hiring small businesses,’’ he said. “You look for partners, people that are on the ground who can find those resources that you need that exist within our communities.’’
The awards ceremony also featured an augmented reality display–a fusion of art, commerce and technology– designed by the Director of the Fiserv + RU-N partnership, Karen Brown Stovell, in collaboration with Veda Shamsid-Deen, ARConnex Inc., and Pamela Miller, Miller Designs.
Linda Wellbrock, VP of community relations and strategic partnerships at Fiserv, said the initiative is just the type of program Fiserv wants to stand behind.
“Small businesses are the economic engine of New Jersey, with more than a million businesses employing an estimated 2 million people,” she said. “This program is another reflection of how Fiserv and Rutgers are a force for good, helping entrepreneurs gain access to capital, resources, and networks.”
